Richland Chronicle March 31st, 2020

CHRONICLE Richland

Vol. XLVI Issue 24 March 31, 2020

A weekly student publication

• COVID-19 • COVID-19 coverage Pg. 2-3

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• ‘Emma.’

• ‘Emma.’ is sweet and romantic

Pg. 6

• Women • Women wrestlers hit the mat

Pg. 7

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@RLCStudentMedia

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2 COVID-19

UNIVERSITY OF

TEXAS ARLINGTON

March 31, 2020

SCHOOL OF SOCIAL WORK

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Photo The Associated Press

A woman wears a mask amid social distancing during the COVID-19 outbreak while shopping the well stocked produce section at El Rancho grocery store in Dallas March 26.

Dallas responds to crisis

COVID-19 reshaping lives of citizens Fernanda Pargas

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Staff Writer

As reports of COVID-19 increase across the country, Dallas County and other officials are urging people to practice better hygiene and social distancing as they shelter in place.

Although neither the state nor the federal government has initiated a lockdown of every state, Dallas County and city officials have taken the lead in an effort to “flatten the curve” or reduce the impact on local hospitals.

Many school districts and businesses have taken it upon themselves to shut down their operations in an effort to combat the virus.

In a districtwide email to students on March 13, Dallas County Community College District Chancellor Joe May announced that spring break would be extended through March 29.

“Classes will resume on March 30 in an online-only format, which will last through at least the end of April,” he said.

The DCCCD announcement read, “To mitigate the spread of the virus, effective immediately through the end of the spring semester, all district-sponsored and campus events with greater than 250 people will be postponed or rescheduled.”

Much has changed since then. All DCCCD campuses are closed to the public and classes have resumed online through eCampus to allow students, faculty and staff to practice social distancing.

On March 24, Dallas County Judge Clay Jenkins issued a “Stay Home, Stay Safe” order that required the residents of Dallas County to stay home except for essential travel to grocery stores, pharmacies or other “essential business.”

“Essential businesses shall comply with the social distancing guidelines, including maintaining six-feet social distancing for both

employees and the general public,” the order read.

Representative Colin Allred held two town hall meetings in March. The first was held March 10 before the virus was declared a pandemic.

It was in the Dallas Health and Human Services offices and addressed the public’s concern while encouraging people to wash their hands.

“Essential businesses shall comply with the social distancing guidelines, including maintaining six-feet social distancing for both employees and the general public.”

- Judge Clay Jenkins The second was a telephone event in which Allred urged people to stay home and avoid crowds. By this time, the State Department issued a “Level 4: Do Not Travel” advisory that warned Americans not to travel due to the pandemic.

As of March 31, Dallas Health and Human Services reports 631 confirmed cases of COVID-19 in Dallas County. 13 people have died to date due to complications from the disease.

March 31, 2020

COVID-19/COLUMN 3

Attempting to adjust to an ‘invisible enemy’ Joyce Jackson Copy Editor

My husband and I found out pretty quickly just how serious the coronavirus really is when it shocked the nation in early March. Although we have been in quarantine for a little over a week, it has transformed our lives and the lives of every American.

President Donald Trump calls the virus, the “invisible enemy.” I think that’s a pretty good description of it. To me, it’s as frightening as a tornado. Although we can’t see COVID-19, we know it’s out there and it’s causing panic among the public, with good reason.

From what my husband and I have seen in supermarkets, people are on edge, and, despite restocking, shelves remain empty, especially in the toilet paper and bread aisles.

During spring break, I was determined to get our income taxes done so we called our CPA and scheduled an appointment the first day of spring break. When we arrived at his office and he opened the door to let us in, he informed us that we were “under

quarantine” and we should not have come to his office without a mask.

I thought he was kidding at first, but he was dead serious. We didn’t know if we should just leave or what, but he told us to stay. He said his wife is a nurse and she told him how serious COVID-19 is and that people could die of it, however, he kept his distance from us while we showed him the papers he needed to do our taxes. It was a very uncomfortable experience.

Later that evening, he called to tell us he needed additional tax information, but to just leave it in his mailbox outside by his front door early the next morning. So, we did.

After meeting with him, we realized how serious COVID-19 really is. Being cooped up in the house for over two weeks now, I have considered what many may fear, that something could go wrong with all the things we take for granted; our computers, the internet, our landlines or cell phones or anything else in our houses that make life comfortable.

My husband and I have since gotten some masks and we see some people wearing them

in supermarkets. Here in Mesquite, we are fortunate to live near to two major supermarkets: Albertsons and Kroger. They are within 10 minutes of our house, so we have no trouble going to the store. We buy what’s available

even though what we want may not be there.

I try not to think about this “invisible enemy” lasting for several months. But, however long it does last, we will all just have to adjust to it as best we can.

Staff Photo Joyce Jackson

Joyce and Buddy Jackson wear protective gear to combat COVID-19.

Wall Street finishing worst first quarter in history

Stocks fell March 31 to close out Wall Street’s worst quarter since the most harrowing days of the 2008 financial crisis.

The S&P 500 dropped a final 1.6%, bringing its loss for the first three months of the year to 20% as predictions for the looming recession caused by the coronavirus outbreak became more dire. Stocks haven’t had this bad a quarter since the last time economists were talking about the worst downturn since the Great Depression, when the S&P 500 lost 22.6% at the end of 2008.

The surge of coronavirus cases around the world sent markets to breathtaking drops since mid-February, undercutting what had been a good start to the year. Markets rose early in the quarter, and the S&P 500 set a record with expectations that the economy was accelerating due to calming trade wars and low interest rates around the world.

Benchmark U.S. crude oil dropped by

roughly two thirds this quarter on expectations that a weakened economy will need less fuel. The yield on the 10-year Treasury dropped below 1% for the first time as investors scrambled for safety, and it ended the quarter at roughly 0.67%. Germany’s DAX lost a quarter of its value, and South Korean stocks fell just over 20%.

The big question is if markets will get worse.

At this point, no one knows.

“People are trying to digest the length and magnitude of what the coronavirus impact is going to be,” said George Rusnak, managing director of investment strategy at Wells Fargo Private Bank.

The steep drops from Tokyo to Toronto in recent weeks reflect investors’ understanding that the economy and corporate profits are in for a sudden, debilitating drop-off.

Economies around the world are grinding to near standstills as businesses close their doors

the following quarter.

Goldman Sachs economists said on March 31 that they expect the U.S. economy to shrink 34% in the second quarter, but they expect growth to rebound in the third quarter.

The S&P 500 fell 42.06 points to 2,584.59.

The Dow Jones Industrial Average lost 410.32, or 1.8%, to 21,917.16, and the Nasdaq was off 74.05, or 1%, to 7,700.10.

The relatively modest moves are a big departure from earlier in the month, when huge swings punished investors. The S&P 500 had its worst day since Black Monday 1987 on March 12 with a 9.5% loss, for example, only to outdo itself with a 12% drop two trading days later. Sandwiched in between was a 9.3% surge.

The number of known coronavirus cases keeps rising, and the worldwide tally has topped 830,000, according to Johns Hopkins University. The United States has the highest number in the world, with more than 170,000.

Most people who contract COVID-19 have mild or moderate symptoms, which can include fever and cough. But for others, especially older adults and people with existing health problems, the virus can cause pneumonia and require hospitalization. More than 41,000 have died worldwide due to COVID19, while more than 175,000 have recovered.

We’re still not even close to peak coronavirus in the U.S. which has already reported more cases than any other country and will sadly likely see a huge spike in the number of deaths, meaning further lockdown measures will likely follow,” said Craig Erlam, senior market analyst at OANDA Europe. “Huge challenges still lie ahead.”

- The Associated Press

RichlandStudentMedia.com

Photo The Associated Press

Stocks are opening slightly lower on Wall Street as investors close out a brutal month of March.

and people hunker down at home in hopes of slowing the spread of the virus.

Markets have also cut their losses in recent weeks on hopes that massive aid from government and central banks around the world can blunt the blow. The S&P 500 was down nearly 31% for the quarter at one point, but it has climbed 15.5% since last Monday.

The Fed has promised to buy as many Treasurys as it takes to get lending markets working smoothly after trading got snarled in markets that help companies borrow short-term cash to make payroll, homebuyers get mortgages and local governments to build infrastructure.

Congress, meanwhile, approved a $2.2 trillion rescue plan for the economy, and leaders are already discussing the possibility of another round of aid.

Whether markets have indeed found a bottom or whether investors have become too optimistic about the economic rebound coming after the viral outbreak peaks is impossible to say without knowing when the number of new infections will hit its peak.

“We’re kind of on this little milestone journey with markets,” said Brent Schutte, chief investment strategist at Northwestern Mutual Wealth Management Co. “First, we get the economic plan in place, then we have to start to see some of the containment actions pay off. At some point it’s going to be how do we get back to work.”

Among the next milestones for investors is Friday’s jobs report, which is expected to show a sharp drop in payrolls. Companies will also being reporting their earnings results for the first quarter in upcoming weeks, and analysts are looking for the steepest drop in profits since the start of 2016, according to FactSet. The numbers may get even worse in

4 WOMEN’S HISTORY MONTH

March 31, 2020

Parkland survivor Taylor Morales speaks at Richland College Adrienne Aguilar

Emeritus Editor-In-Chief When shots rang out at Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School in Parkland, Florida, Taylor Morales thought it was a drill.

“It was the last class of the day and I was taking a math test,” said Morales, a former student now attending a Florida university. “We heard some loud bangs and immediately everyone got up out of their seats and quickly hid into the corner and against the wall.”

Morales visited Richland as a guest speaker for the Honor’s Conference March 3 to discuss gun violence prevention.

“We were trained that you should always, like, try to hide behind the desk because that would be the safest place in the room but there was obviously too much and too many students,” said Morales, who ended up being pressed against a bookshelf and a stack of chairs.

Ashley Baez, her friend, had been outside of the classroom but was able to run in and shut the door after being shot in the leg.

Baez called Morales and asked her to tell her family she was going to be OK and that she wasn’t in pain.

“I crawled over, which was scary because I was exposed to the door and I was afraid I was going to get shot. We were all afraid of that,” Morales said.

Several students rushed to make a tourniquet for Baez. Morales admired their composure. “Obviously, I did not act like that,” she said.

Most students weren’t able to communicate with loved ones. The students’ phones were placed in pouches on the back of the door because they were testing when the gunfire erupted.

“I was too afraid to move to get up to go

Staff Photo Jorge Perez

Adrienne Aguilar (left), interviews activist Taylor Morales (right) about her experience in the Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School shooting in the Chronicle TV studio on March 3.

get it,” Morales said. “While everyone else was saying goodbye to their families and stuff, the majority of us could not have that pleasure of doing so. It was very upsetting.”

Nikolas Cruz, the then 19-year-old former student, killed 17 people; two of whom were Morales’ friends, Joaquin Oliver and Gina Montalto.

“You could hear, like, his footsteps walking throughout the hall and you could hear, like, the gunshots and screaming,” she said. “The screaming was so loud.”

Morales prayed Cruz wouldn’t come into their room before they could be evacuated by SWAT team members.

“We had to listen to him try to jam the gun into the door [and] try to shoot through the door of the neighboring classrooms. Eventually, he walked upstairs and then you could hear him now on the top floor,” Morales said.

The SWAT team instructed everyone to keep their hands up, press themselves to the

left side of the hall and exit efficiently and quickly. Baez was carried out.

“I followed the directions but on the floor, there was empty shells, glass, blood and it was staining my shoes. So obviously, I looked down because my foot kept slipping but I kept my hands up,” she said.

As students and faculty grabbed their phones and headed for the door, Morales said she could see bodies sprawled on the ground in the periphery of her vision.

“That shocked me and upset me,” Morales said. “I didn’t understand why the police officers weren’t carrying them out.” Morales later learned that they were dead. She was eventually able to call her dad and went home.

In the days after the shooting, Morales said she felt numb.

“We all kept our phones on and we were waiting to hear back from one of our friends.

Everyone was just asking, ‘Have you heard from Gina?’” They learned later that she did

not survive.

The event has remained a part of Morales’s life. She likened her memories of the event to Post Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD).

“In the night times, it was very hard for me because I would have a hard time walking from my living room to my bedroom,” Morales said. She would call friends to talk to while she walked around her house.

“I was just so petrified and I knew logically that nothing was going to happen,” Morales said. She feared the shooter was going to show up. “Even in my own home, I didn’t feel safe.”

Morales has taken it upon herself to tell her story despite not being a part of the main group of Parkland activists. She said attending the rally where Parkland survivors and activist Emma Gonzalez gave her “This Is B.S.” speech, inspired her.

“I felt powerful,” Morales said. “I think people really just need to understand that it will happen anywhere.”

Morales said gun violence is not biased on race, class, religion or gender. Shootings can happen anywhere.

“It can be you,” she said. “It’ll just take that one time, that one kid, that one incident, and your whole life will change.”

Morales, now speaking to campuses across the country, has taken it upon herself to tell her story. She urged others to go out and vote for candidates who represent their values and priorities.

“Even if you haven’t personally yet been affected by gun violence, you have to understand that not only should you care that it’s happening to other people,” Morales said.

“But it should motivate you to know that it can easily happen to you as well.”

Although she can’t do anything about the shooting now, Morales said what she can do is try to make a difference in the future.

Watch the full interview at RichlandStudentMedia.com

Women’s Initiative Network engaging female students Ola Sawalhi Staff Writer

College offers many students the chance to engage with lots of people from different cultures and backgrounds. At Richland, there are lots of programs, clubs and initiatives that enable students to interact with each other and learn beyond the classroom. The Women’s Initiative Network (WIN) is among the programs that offer intangible lessons, build confidence and teaches other important lessons.

“It was started as a way to empower women here at Richland College,” Erin Lewis, the adviser for WIN, said.

Students meet every Thursday, from 2 to 3:30 p.m. in Thunderduck Hall, Room 222.

Guest speakers discuss a range of topics including how to be financially-responsible, how to own your own business, how to go to medical school and how to transfer into a four-year university.

Pizza and game night, and the LinkedIn presentation on campus are two examples of the events and activities that WIN organizes with other departments at Richland, including the Office of Student Life (OSL) and the Multicultural Center.

“The first milestone was having a meeting.

We had a meeting two years ago in the spring semester and I think we might have had eight to nine young ladies come,” Lewis said. “It just grew slowly. We went on from having one meeting a month to twice a month.”

Most students join this program after they have heard of it from their fellow students and classmates. It offers a way for the students to be more involved with their communities and to learn more about themselves.

Hosting events with other programs and clubs on campus enables the program to build a bigger platform and attract more students.

“Usually when women are in the WIN program, they have got it together. They just

want to make sure they are doing everything they can so they can go to the next level,” Lewis said.

Students who are interested in joining WIN can contact Erin Lewis, the adviser for WIN at erinlewis@dcccd.edu.

This program, like others at Richland, is

on indefinite hold due to the shelter-in-place order imposed by the county as we fight the coronavirus. More information is available online at https://www.richlandcollege.edu/sliferlc/win/ pages/default.aspx

Staff Photo Jack Ramirez Bernal

WIM members Marisol Maldonado, left, Anne Lambu and Fernanda Campos attend a clubmeeting on March 12.

March 31, 2020

WOMEN’S HISTORY MONTH 5

Two RLC finalists for the Jack Kent Cooke Scholarship Natalia Pineda Staff Writer

Photo Courtesy Michelle Lopez

Scholarship semifinalist Michelle Lopez stands in front of the Texas State Capitol.

Richland students Mimi Mbaakanyi and Michelle Lopez have been named semifinalists for the Jack Kent Cooke (JKC) Undergraduate Transfer Scholarship, an extremely competitive scholarship requiring academic excellence and hard work.

The scholarship is a highly selective honor for the top students attending community colleges across the nation. It is designed for students who have achieved strong academic success and are in need of financial support.

The scholarship allows community college students to transfer to a four-year university to complete their bachelor’s degree in any field of study.

The main eligibility requirements are to be a community college sophomore in the fall with a minimum 3.5 GPA and require financial support. The award is presented the following year.

Winners can receive up to $40,000 per year, which will cover the cost of tuition, books, living expenses and other fees at their desired university. The students will also have a personal adviser who will help them navigate the financial aid process at their select university.

Sixty-one community college students across the nation were recipients of this scholarship

in 2019. The JKC Foundation allows students to pursue their potential through opportunities to study at home and abroad.

Dr. Kathleen Stephens is the Honors Program coordinator and JKC representative at Richland. She offered tips on how to prepare and submit materials for the scholarship.

Although the minimum GPA of 3.5 is required, Stephens encourages students to aim higher.

“They are looking for a high GPA but in order to be really competitive for the scholarship you are looking at having a 3.8, 3.9 or 4.0,” she said. “They’re also looking at involvement in terms of leadership, community service. You know, how you are going to make a difference in the world.”

Among those applying for this highly competitive scholarship, 93% were involved in community service activities throughout their college career.

In order to move forward in the application process, students must prove their passion and hard work through their everyday actions.

Holding a leadership position in the field of their interest, whether in academics, sports, church, or community, is of importance to the Cooke Foundation.

Applicants should demonstrate the ways in which they want to change the world within their future careers. Influencing those around them and being a strong leader who takes

initiative is part of that criteria. Stephens advises students to see scholarship applications as a part-time job and to be truly committed to them.

Lopez, one of the two semi-finalists, is an honors student. She plans to major in language and is very passionate about law and policy, especially when it comes to minority rights.

She plans to join The American Civil Liberties Union (ACLU) and wants to become involved in changing immigration policy.

Lopez has been an active student, attending workshops hosted by different organizations, including the National Association for the Advancement of Colored People (NAACP) and Planned Parenthood.

Her best advice for students who are trying to apply for the scholarship is to be confident in yourself and to tell your story.

“I wrote a whole essay on who I am and what I want to be,” Lopez said.

The Richland Honors Program opens applications for the scholarship Aug. 1. Students should begin the application process for the JKC Scholarship in the fall of 2020 for the following year.

Semifinalists were announced in January.

However, students who are interested in joining the Honors Program can contact Stephens and adviser Andrew Couch from 8:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. Monday through Friday or visit https://www.richlandcollege.edu/cd/instruct-divisions/rlc/mshp/honors-program/pages/apply.aspx

Why Transfer to Texas Woman’s University?

•

Easy transfer process, and we help maximize transfer credits

•

Variety of program formats

•

Open to women and men

•

Financial aid & scholarships available for transfer

•

Family housing available or live off campus if you’ve earned more than 60 credit hours

•

We know transfer students — half of TWU’s undergraduate students are transfers

Learn more at TWU.edu/transfer or attend a recruiting event online

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